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Structure of plankton phytocoenoses in the shelf waters of the northeastern Black Sea during the Emiliania huxleyi bloom in 2002–2005

  • Marine Biology
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Abstract

It is shown that, in 2002–2005, the mass development of the coccolithofore Emiliania huxleyi on the Gelendzhik shelf occurred annually and in May–June its abundance reached 1.5 × 106 cells/l. In 2004–2005, the bloom of E. huxleyi was accompanied by a mass development of the diatom alga Chaetoceros subtilis var. abnormis f. simplex (0.6–0.9 × 106 cells/l); for the first time, it was registered as a dominating form of the Black Sea phytoplankton. Small flagellates and picoplankton algae played a noticeable role in the phytoplankton throughout the entire period of the studies. Meanwhile, in the early summer period, the bulk of the biomass consisted of coccolithophores (50–60%), while, in the late summer period, diatomaceous algae dominated (50–70%). Among the ecological factors that favor the coccolithophore development one may note the microstratification of the upper mixed layer at a high illumination level and high temperature in the surface waters (18–21°C). The terrigenous runoff during the rainy period had a negative effect on the E. huxleyi development, while storms dispersed the population over the upper mixed layer. The wind-induced near-shore upwelling stimulated the development of diatoms.

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Original Russian Text © L.A. Pautova, A.S. Mikaelyan, V.A. Silkin, 2007, published in Okeanologiya, 2007, Vol. 47, No. 3, pp. 408–417.

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Pautova, L.A., Mikaelyan, A.S. & Silkin, V.A. Structure of plankton phytocoenoses in the shelf waters of the northeastern Black Sea during the Emiliania huxleyi bloom in 2002–2005. Oceanology 47, 377–385 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0001437007030101

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0001437007030101

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